Soft schedule? Road ahead squashes that notion

COLLEGE STATION — If I had my way, Texas A&M would play Florida, USC, Notre Dame and Alabama every year in nonconference action. Heck, some of the Big 12 opponents would be considered the cupcakes on that schedule.

Of course, I don’t play or coach in the games, I just cover them (one reason why the idea of A&M in the Southeastern Conference is so alluring – what great road trips for fans and reporters).

Leading to this: Anyone who insists that the Aggies’ schedule is Charmin soft needs his noggin examined – and, like me, obviously isn’t strapping a helmet to it every Saturday.

Yes, Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech and Florida International – a three-game stretch that mercifully winds up on Saturday night at Kyle Field – isn’t exactly a killer early lineup, but some tend to forget Arkansas is part of the nonconference slate. Or maybe they’re fantasizing A&M already is in the SEC.

When the Aggies dust off the Golden Panthers on Saturday to move to 3-0, there are no gimme games remaining. A&M opens league play on a Thursday night at Oklahoma State (on Sept. 30) on ESPN, and nine days later takes on Arkansas in Arlington in a final nonconference contest.

There’s a big payout attached to the Arkansas game – A&M made about $4 million from the game last year – but why the Aggies agreed to a 10-year deal with the Razorbacks is beyond me. Especially if it turns into a regular whipping (and last year A&M lost by four touchdowns to an average Arkansas team).

If A&M truly was aiming for easy, there would be one more directional school scheduled to play at Kyle Field, outside of Big 12 play. The Razorbacks are ranked 12th in this week’s Associated Press poll.

Aggies coach Mike Sherman was asked about criticism of his program’s schedule during the weekly press conference leading up to the FIU game.